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McCain aggressive in pursuing lobbyist records
Monday, April 5, 2004

An investigation by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) into the work of a high-paid Republican lobbyist who represented four tribes is seeing some opposition, the Associated Press reports.

The Mississippi Band of Choctaws won't agree to release records to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, the AP reported. The tribe has been a client of former Greenberg Traurig lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

But Senate staff aren't worried about the tribe's opposition. They are negotiating with Greenberg Traurig for all of Abramoff's records whether the tribes agree or not, the AP reported. One Senate source said the committee doesn't believe there was an attorney-client privilege with Abramoff since he is not a lawyer.

Two other former clients, the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan and the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, have been willing to turn over their documents, according to news reports. But some within the two tribes have raised objections.

A fourth client was the Agua Caliente Band of Mission Indians of California. There is no word on the tribe's stance on the investigation.

Abramoff and a public relations executive not employed by Greenberg Traurig were paid at least $45 million by the four tribes.

Get the Story:
Lobbyist to be investigated (AP 4/3)
‘You get what you pay for,’ say Abramoff’s Chippewa backers (The Hill 3/30)

Relevant Links:
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe - http://www.sagchip.org
Coushatta Tribe - http://www.coushattatribela.org
Mississippi Band of Choctaws - http://www.choctaw.org
Greenberg Traurig - http://www.gtlaw.com

Related Stories:
McCain demands documents for tribal lobbyist's work (3/30)
Embattled lobbyist signs deal with another firm (03/25)
Embattled tribal lobbyist gave to Conn. Congressman (03/10)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe hires new lobbying firm (3/9)
McCain begins investigation into high tribal fees (3/4)
Pueblo governor says $1M fee to PR firm not worth it (3/3)
McCain calls for investigation into tribal spending (2/27)
Four tribes spent $45M on lobbying and PR firms (2/23)
GOP lobbyist scores big with tribes (04/03)
Embattled tribe gets has new lobbyist (12/13)

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